Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Nambucca Heads
31 km²
Very few residents in Nambucca Heads earn high incomes, with typical household weekly pay at just $839, far below the national figure. This is a community with a notably older population and a strong First Nations presence. Many people here live alone or in small households, which helps explain why nearly 46% of homes are owned outright. It is a place where a significant number of residents face health challenges and lower-than-average educational attainment.
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The typical resident is 57, making the area far older than most of Australia. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 37.5% of the population, while children under 15 account for only 13.6%.
Most of the community was born in Australia, and those with overseas roots are far fewer than in the rest of the state. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 87.9% of the population. Only 3.4% of residents use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.
About 39.2% of people report having no religion, a figure slightly above the national average. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 48.4%.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 32.6% of people completing Year 12. Just 10.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are among the lowest at this level, with the typical personal weekly income being $499. Only 5.1% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Health needs are high here, with 43.6% of people living with a long-term condition. About 12.1% of residents need help with daily activities, which is well above the state average.
The area has a higher rate of veterans than most places, with 5.2% having served in the Defence Force. Unpaid care for others is more common here than in the rest of the state.
First Nations people make up 10.1% of the community. This group faces significant challenges, with an unemployment rate of 15.1% and typical household incomes well below the national figure.
Living arrangements are distinctive, as 42.4% of people live alone and one-parent families are very common at 23.4%. This leads to smaller households, with only 2.0 people per home.
Home ownership is strong, with 45.8% of houses owned outright. While most are separate houses, they tend to be smaller, as 58% have three or more bedrooms compared to 73.8% nationally.
Cars are the primary way to get to work, and only 0.2% of people use public transport. This is despite the area having more public transport stops than most similar places.
About 35.8% of residents moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are far fewer than the state and national averages.
Working life is less common here, as only 36.5% of adults are working or looking for work. The unemployment rate of 7.9% is well above the national average.
The area is somewhat walkable, with many residents living within 15 minutes of health services and groceries. However, far fewer people are within walking distance of a school.